Stranica 151 [151]
THE GALLANT TAILOR. II5
sitting in did not get torn up too, or else I should have had
to jump like a squirrel from one tree to another."
Then he drew his sword and gave each of the giants a
few hacks in the breast, and went back to the horsemen and
said,
‘The deed is done, I have made an end of both of them:
but it went hard with me, in the struggle they rooted up trees
to defend themselves, but it was of no use, they had to do
with a man who can kill seven at one blow.”
“Then are you not wounded?” asked the horsemen.
‘Nothing of the sort!” answered the tailor, “I have not
turned a hair.”
. The horsemen still would not believe it, and rode into
the wood to see, and there they found the giants wallowing
in their blood, and all about them lying the uprooted trees.
The little tailor then claimed the promised boca, but the
King repented him of his offer, and he sought again how to
rid himself of the hero.
“ Before you can possess my daughter and the half of my
kingdom,” said he to the tailor, “you must perform another
heroic act. In the wood lives a unicorn who does great
damage ; you must secure him.”
c A unicorn does not strike more terror into me than two
giants. Seven at one blow!—that is my way,” was the tailor’s
answer. |
So, taking a rope and an axe with him, he went out into
the wood, and told those who were ordered to attend him to
wait outside. He had not far to seek, the unicorn soon
came out and sprang at him, as if he would make an end of
him without delay. “Softly, softly,” said he, “most haste,
worst speed,” and remained standing until the animal came
| quite near, then he slipped quietly behind a tree. The
unicorn ran with all his might against the tree and stuck his
. horn so deep into the trunk that he could not get it out
. again, and so was taken.
' “Now I have you,” said the tailor, coming out from
behind the tree, and, putting the rope round the unicorn’s
: neck, he took the axe, set free the horn, and when. all his .
party were assembled he led forth the animal and brought it
. to the King.